‘Severnsiders lose close encounter in Devon.’

This was always going to be another tough encounter for the Severnsiders as they travelled down to Devon against forth placed Devonport Services writes Roger Pike. The conditions were extremely challenging with rain making it a heavy pitch, however the match was always a tight affair with only a score separating the teams all afternoon. It was Devonport who ran out winners in this close encounter but it was a good Lydney performance however it was their penalty nemesis that once again proved costly in the second half. Lydney were forced into a couple of changes with injuries continuing, Riley Scriven moved into the second row with McClean, Hudson and Fowke forming a very mobile back row. On the bench were Mike Massey, James Bayliss and Drew Roberts who was making his 1st team debut after coming through the junior ranks.

The hosts kicked off and the opening encounters remained even with both sides playing some good running rugby. It was the hosts who finally scored first with a good backs move to open their account for 7 – 0 after just 10 minutes. However Lydney were certainly matching the hosts and a good move with forwards and backs saw Mike Cross score, with Brad Barnes adding the extras game was all square 7 – 7. On 26 minutes the hosts got a penalty and created some good field position which resulted in a further score for 14 – 7. The game was still end to end and with Lydney deep in the hosts half a Barnes penalty kick cut the deficit to 14 – 10 which was the halftime score.

With the forward pack going well Lydney started the second half strongly and were unlucky not to add to their score when a Barnes penalty kick went narrowly wide. Still attacking a good set of forward drives ended with hooker Rob White scoring, Barnes was again on target and the Severnsiders had the lead 14 – 17 on the hour mark. The hosts hit back almost immediately winning a penalty, opting to kick they tied the scores at 17 -17. The Severnsiders started to give away further penalties which was costing them field position, taking full advantage the hosts scored again to lead 24 – 17.

The game remained close, emptying their bench the visitors had young Drew Roberts on at outside half for his 1st team debut with Barnes slotting into the centre. Another youngster prop James Baylis came into the front row and made a good impact as he gains in experience at this level. Lydney piled on the pressure in the closing minutes, winning a penalty they kicked towards the corner. With a good line out win the forwards rumbled towards the line, with the backs arriving to add further weight a score looked certain but the hosts held them out. Further drives saw Lydney camped on the hosts line, but a penalty awarded for holding on saw the hosts escape and the game ended 24 – 17.

Team Manager Gareth Williams commented ‘It was a close contest for the full 80 minutes, we played some good rugby but our penalty count once again cost us in the second half and this has been the story over recent weeks and something we need to put right. Really pleased with the effort today, it was also a good learning curve for our young side as they gain experience at this level. Without the penalty count we would have certainly come away with more from this game. Next week we play our final game at Regentsholme against the league champions Cambourne’.

Lydney – Rowan Mullis, Rob White, Jack Spencer, Phil Williams, Riely Scriven, Luke Hudson, Joe McClean, Jordan Fowke, Tom Broady, Brad Barnes, Mike Cross, Joe Hamlin , Henry Sleeman, Sami Hamid, Alex Nelmes. Replacements James Bayliss, Mike Massey, Drew Roberts.